Drum



W. D. NELSON.

DRUM.

APPLICATION FILED omza. 1920.

1,431,836, Patented Oct. 10,1922.

Ii n III 19' wade flyzzpra By W Patented Oct. 10, 1922.

UNITED STATES WESLEY D. NELSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRUM.

Application filed December 23, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WESLEY l). NnLsoN, citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drums, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to improvements in drums, but relates more particularly to improvements in devi es for positioning, holding and'tensioning snares on a drum.

Snares are much used in conjunction with drums of certain types for securing certain desired tonal effects. A plurality of snares are provided, usually 12 in number, which are stretched diametrically across the drum skin or drum head. In order to operate in the best manner the respective snares should be tensioned as uniformly as possible. The devices for holding and adjusting snares, as heretofore constructed, make it diflicult initially to adjust the various snares properly and also to maintain them under desired uniform tension. Under the practice heretofore prevailing all of the snares were clamped at one end and to adjust them they were pulled by hand until they were placed as nearly as possible under uniform tension and then the entire group secured by means of a single clamp.

In practice it has proven diflicult properly to tension all of the snares in this manner and even after the adjustment is made conditions arise from time to time which change the tension ofcertainof the snares; some stretching or yielding more than others. In order to take up these snares it has been necessary to retension the entire group and because of the laboriousness of this operation drumn'iers refrain from adjusting snares as long as possible, and thus use an instrument a good part of the time which is not properly conditioned for use.

The general object of my invention is so to improve the means for mounting and adjusting snares that this work can be done quickly, accurately, and without the need of exercising much care or skill.

It is also an object of my invention to provide snare adjusting means whereby all of the snares can be adjusted or tensioned with substantial uniformity in the initial tensioning thereof and wherein the various individual snares may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the requirements Serial No. 432,724.

of such snares and without disturbing other of the snares which may be properly c011- ditioned.

It is also an object of my invention to provide snare adjusting means which will maintain the snares under desired tension without danger of breaking same when subjected to the abnormal conditions affecting the length thereof. I aim also to provide snare adjusting means which can be used in conjunction with snare drums of the usual construction; which shall be of simple construction and of low cost and which can bexeuickly and easily affixed to the drum.

1 y invention consists generally in the form, arrangement, construction and co-operation of the parts whereby the above named objects, together with others that will appear hereinafter are attainable; and my invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate what I consider, at the present time, to be the preferred embodiment thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, bottom side up, of a snare drum embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing means for holding the snares at one end.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the diametrically opposite portion of the drum showing means for adjusting and tensionin the snares.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section along the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view substantially on theline 66 of Fig. 4.

The drum mayvary in form and construction, and the one here shown should be con sidered as by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

It comprises a shell 1, over which a skin 2 is stretched as by means of the flesh hoop 3 and the counter hoop 4. Means (not shown) are provided for moving the counter hoop 4 axially of the drum, thereby to move the flesh hoop 3 downwardly to place the skin '2 under tension. As this forms no part of the present invention it has not been shown, nor will the means be described.

At two diametrically opposite points the counter hoop 4 is bowed outwardly or offset as indicated at 5 and 6, to provide a space etween the counter hoop and flesh hoop through which the ends of the snares 7 may be passed. The snares, as here shown, are 12 in number being formed, however, of six strings, each 01 which is in the form of a loop. The free ends 8 of the snares, i. e. the ends opposite from the loop are secured between clamp members 9 and 10, the clamp 10 being carried by or secured to the shell 1 of the drum. The loop ends of the snares pass through what 1 term snare retainers 11. There are a plurality of these snare retainers 11; many in number as there are pairs of snares. They are provided at their outer ends with openings 12 to receive the snare loop. The snare retainers 11 are positioned in openings" 13 formed in a block or casing is which is attached to the shell 1 of the drum as by means of screws 15. The openings 13 extend entirely through the member 14rbut at an intermediate point are provided with screw threads 16 to receive the threaded adjusting plug 17. The various snare retainers 11 are likewise provided witl long tapped openings 18 to receive the threaded ends of the screws or bolts 19. The adjusting blocks 1'? are provided with cen tral openings 17 of a size sufiicient to permit free movement of the bolts 19 there through. interposed between the head 19 of the bolt and the plug 17 is a compression spring 20.

Operation of the device: To position the snares initially they are passed through openings 12 in the snare retainers and the various free ends 8 are then clamped between the members 9 and 10. At this time the bolt heads 19 are placed a considerable distance from the adjusting plugs 1.7 so that the snares are not under much tension. dotted position of bolts in Fig. 5.) To tension the snares the various bolts are screwed so that the heads approach more nearly the blocks 17 which serve to draw the snare retainers into the header 1 1, and at the same time to place the strings 20 under greater compression. The various strings 20 may vary slightly as to compressibility but by means of the adjusting plugs 17 they may all be caused to exert the same force. This adjustment is one which is taken care of in the factory and serves only to overcome any qualities obtaining in the various compression strings 20. Once they are properly adjusted no further manipulation is necessary by the user. By screwing the bolts inwardly so that the heads are all flush with the lower edge of the member 14 all of the snares can beplaced under uniform tension. The slide cover 21 may then be put in place and the instrument is ready "for use. in the event certain of the snares lose their tension as they will, from time to time, such snares can be readily taken up without the need of disturbing those other snares which are properly tensioned. This ca" be done in an instant. The springs 17 also act as cushions.

The many advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art withou; further comment.

I claim 1. A device of the class described embodying therein a member having a guide way therein, a snare retainer formed to slide in said guide way, and a screw for moving said snare retainer in said guide way.

2. A device of the class described embodying therein a member having a guise way therein, a snare retain 1' formed to slide in said guide way, and a combined screw and spring means for moving said snare retainer in said guide way.

A device of the class described embodying therein a member having a guide way therein. a snare retainer formed to slide in said guide way, a bolt, said bolt and sna a retainer having co-acting threaded portions, and a compression spring positioned to exert its force in a direction to tend to move the bolt longitudinally. v

1. A. device of the class described embodying therein a member having a guide way thereon, a snare retainer formed-to slide in said guide way, a bolt, said bolt and snare retainer having co-acting threaded portions, a compression spring p sitioned to exert its force in a direction to tend to move the bolt longitudinally, and means for adjusting the compression of said spring.

in. testimony whereof, T have hereunto set my hand, this 18th day of December, 1920.

WESLEY D. NE SUN. 

